Page 5 of Falling for the Forbidden
“Yeah, great. The boss is a bit of a dick, though.” I can’t help but snort a laugh.
“Ben, don’t,” Jenny snaps, but Dad’s too focused on whatever he’s doing to have heard.
The waiter comes over to take our orders and Dad actually looks surprised when we prompt him to say what he wants. His eyes scan the menu quickly before ordering a steak and being pissed off when he’s asked how he’d like it cooked.
“Who in their right mind would order it any way other than rare in a place like this?” he grumbles once the waiter’s left us to it.
“Let’s just enjoy our evening. Work keeps us busy all week.”
“This won’t wait. Unless you want to deal with it?” Dad snaps at Jenny, who pales at his outburst.
“No, no. You know what you’re doing. Just don’t spend all night on that thing.” The glare she receives would make most people cower, but somehow, she manages to hold her own.
Looking back to the two of us, she continues with her earlier small talk. I don’t need to see him; I can sense the tension radiating from Ben because of the way my dad talks to his mum. Thankfully, he has enough self-control to keep his disapproval to himself—for now, at least.
Dad’s phone rings and he immediately answers it before getting up and walking out of the restaurant to deal with whatever is so important on a Sunday night.
“I’m just going to use the bathroom before the food arrives,” Jenny whispers, watching her husband disappear from sight.
“Well, this is fun,” Ben says once we’re alone.
“That’s one way to describe it. I’m surprised you turned up.”
“There’s…suddenly something worth making the effort for.” His eyes drop from mine, to my lips, and then lower. My whole body heats under his gaze and I squirm in my seat. “You’re fucking trouble.” It’s the last thing he says before Dad reappears, looking pissed off. Ben goes back to sitting mutely beside me for the rest of the meal, but I don’t miss the odd glance my way when Dad’s distracted.
Once the bill’s paid, we rush out of there like the place is on fire. Jenny looks upset, and I feel bad for her…but I fear she’s trying to turn us all into something we’re never going to be.
A perfect family.
Chapter Three
I’ve no idea why,but as I walk into the office for my first day, I’m nervous as hell. I’ve been here many times, and I’ve met every single person, but still, butterflies continue to riot in my belly. I put it down to the fact my dad’s about to become my boss, and I know exactly what everyone around here thinks of him. I don’t expect special treatment because I’m his daughter, but I do hope for a little reprieve from him.
I follow Dad as he barks instructions at Betty and Erica, who are sitting at their desks, ready to start the week. Betty immediately jumps up and rushes towards the kitchen to make Dad his morning coffee.
“Would you like anything, sweetheart?” she asks when she spots me.
“Uh…tea would be great. Thank you.”
Betty has been working for Johnson & Sons for so long that she’s practically part of the furniture. I think before my dad took up residence in the office and started throwing his weight around, she was probably classed as one of the family. But Dad’s done a stellar job of turning this friendly family business into something more corporate. His desire to be the best knows no bounds, and the second he could get his teeth into this place, he did.
Pushing the nagging feeling that this business is the only reason Dad married Jenny to the back of my mind, I walk over to my desk. I worked here for a few weeks last summer so I know my way around. I mostly spent those weeks doing menial tasks like shredding, but this time, I’m an actual employee with actual responsibilities. I’m not sure whether I should be excited or scared.
“Are you ready for this?” Erica asks. We hit it off immediately last year. She’d just dropped out of uni and found herself an admin job here. Thankfully, she’s got plenty of backbone and can handle herself around my dad.
“Honestly, I’ve no idea.”
“It’ll be fine. You’re up for tonight, right?”
“What’s happening tonight?”
Rolling her eyes at me like I shouldn’t even need to ask, she says, “Your new job drinks.”
“Oh…uh…it’s okay.”
“No, no it’s not. It’s tradition for any new staff—under the age of about…thirty-five,” she whispers, “to go out for drinks on their first day.”
“Even on a Monday?”
